Garment hanger



Dec. 9, 1947. v C, RlEMANN 2,432,251

GARMENT HANGER x Filed sept. 1o, 1945 2 sheets-'sheet 1 Dec. 9, 1947. H, C, RlEMANN 2,432,251

GARMENT HANGER Filed sept. 10, 1945 3 sheets-sheet 2 Arroz/@75,

Patented Dec. 9, 1947 JNHTED STATES @TENT QFFICE.

GARMENT HANGER Howard C. Riemann, West Milwaukee, Wis., as-

signor to The Fulton Company, West Allis,

Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application September 10, 1945, Serial No. 615,398

2 claims. (C1. 223-91) 2 The present invention relates generally to im- An additional specific object of the present provements in the art of producing suspension invention is to provide an improved combined devices for clothing or the like, and relates more coat and pants hanger formed of sheet-metal, particularly to improvements in the construction plastic, or the like, and which is exceedingly comand operation of combined hangers for trousers pact and durable, which has considerable capacor skirts and coats or similar articles of wearing ity, and which may be manufactured and sold apparel. at very moderate cost for diverse uses.

The primary object of my present invention is These and other specific objects and advanto provide a new and useful garment hanger tages of the invention will be apparent from the which is durable and sturdy in construction and l following detailed description. 1 highly effective in use. A clear conception of the features constituting Many different types of garment hangers for my present improvement, and of the construction suspending diverse articles of wearing apparel and operation of a composite garment hanger when not in actual use, have heretofore been embodying the invention, may be had by referproposed, and while some of these prior devices l5 ring to the drawings accompanying and forming were adapted to receive only coats, trousers, or a part 0f this specification wherein like referskirts, others were constructed to simultaneously ence characters designate the same or similar suspend two or more such articles. Many of parts in the various views. these previous garment hangers were formed of Fig. 1 is a top view of one of the improved wire, wood, and paper, while some were formed COmDOSite garment hangers; of sheet metal with the aid of punches and dies; Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the composite hangbut all of the prior garment suspension devices er, showing the suspension hook in active posiwere objectionable either because they were too tion, but the two trouser clamping bars latched frail, or too bulky, or too heavy, or too costly, and in inactive condition;

or because they were not adapted to properly Fig. 3 is a view similar to that of Fig. 2, but maintain the suspended garments in shape or in showing the outer trouser clamping bar unneat condition. latched and swung outwardly;

It is therefore a more specific object of the Fig. 4 is another rear elevational view of the present invention to provide an improved garsame composite hanger, showing both of the ment hanger which obviates all of the above trouser suspension bars Unlathed and SWuIlg mentioned objectionable features, and which may outwardly; and be readily produced from suitable sheet-like ma- Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the hanger drawn terial with the aid of punches and dies or by to reduced size, and showing a pair of trousers iniection molding, to provide a suspension device suspended therefrom, which will not undesirably stretch, wrinkle or While the invention has been shown herein as otherwise deform the suspended articles. being advantageously applicable to composite Another specinc object of my invention is to hangers formed of sheet-metal and adapted to provide a strong and attractive garment suspensimultaneously suspend both coats and trousers, sion device formed of sheet-like material and it is not my desire or intent to unnecessarily readapted to receive several garments simultastrict or' limit all features of the improvement neously, and which will permit convenient applito such composite devices nor to the use of sheetcation or` withdrawal or removal of any of the metal, since certain of these improved features individual garments without undesirably disturbare more generally applicable and the parts may ing. Others also be formed of sheet-like material such as A further specific object of this invention is to plastic produced by injection molding.

provide an inexpensive but rigid garment hanger Referring to the drawing, the improved comespecially adapted to'V suspend coats, jackets. posits garment hanger shown therein, comprises sweaters or the like, while preventing sagging or in general a main cnc-piece sheet-metal body 'i distortion of the shoulders of such articles. having a longitudinally curved front apron wall Still another specific object of the invention i f3 provided with downwardly and outwardly slopis to provide an improved hanger' for one or ,more ing laterally curved opposite shoulder supports 9, trousers, shirt`s, or the like, wherein undesirable and having an open rear portion; a wire suspencompre'ssion of seams and pleats is eliminated, sion hook In swingably suspended from the upwhile the individual articles are' readily applipermost inner portion of the apron wall 8 by cable or removable. '"*5 means of a small bracket Il; a straight trouser clamping bar I2 having one end swingably connected to one lower inner end of the wall 8 by a combined hinge and clamping hook I3, while its opposite end is formed for snug coaction with a clamping hook I4 secured to the opposite lower inner end of the Wall 8; and a medially oil-set trouser clamping bar I5 having one end provided with a slotl I6 swingably coacting with a bulge I 'I near the hooked end of the bar I2, while its opposite end is formed for snug coaction with the hook I3.

The main body l including the apron wall 8 and shoulder supports 9, may be readily formed of a single piece of sheet-metal with the aid of punches and dies, and is so shaped and curved that it will snugly t the shoulders and collar portions of coats, jackets, sweaters, or the like, which are applied thereto and suspended therefrom. The longitudinal and lateral curvature of this one-piece sheet-metal body 1, permits the use of relatively thin and light sheet material, without sacriiicing rigidity and strength; and the longitudinal curving of the open `sided sheetmetal body structure also permits compact nesting of a number of the hangers for confinement within a suitcase or the like.

The wire suspension hook I which is pivotally attached vto the bracket II, may be swung downwardly within the bodyl I when not in use,

but may also be readily positioned as shown in the drawings; and this hook I0 may obviously be formed of asingle length of wire or other strip metal. The hook attaching bracket II may be formed of sheet-metal, and may be attached to the upper inner portion of the body I in any suitable manner as by riveting or spot welding.

The central portion of the lower rim of the body apron wall 8 is preferably provided with an off-set I8 in order to provide space for the reception of the thicker side seams I9 of the legs of trousers 29, and while the medial portion of the trouser clamping bar I2 is straight, the medial portion of the outer clamping bar IE is also preferably provided with a similar off-set 2I. The clamping bars I2, I5 are formed of resilient sheetmetal and may be produced `with the aid of punches and dies, and the same is true of the clamping hooks I3 which may be firmly secured to thebody Wall 8 by riveting or spot welding.

As previously indicated, one end of the inner clamping bar I2 is swingably secured to the combined hinge end hook I3; and the opposite swinging end 22 of this bar is bent outwardly' a considerable distance beyond the bulge Il', so as to provide the desired clamping eiect when the bar end 22 is inserted within the hook I4. As also previously indicated, the slotted end oi the outer clamping `bar I5 is swingably associated with the bulge Il of the inner bar I2; and the opposite end 23 of this bar is likewise bent outwardly a considerable distance in order to provide the desired clamping effect when this bar end 23 is inserted within the hinge hook I3. The clamping bar assemblage is therefore such, that the lower leg portions of one pair of trousers 2e may be-clamped between the inner bar I2 and the body'wall 8,- while the lower leg portions of another pair of trousers 2D may be independently clamped between the bars I2, I5; and the outer bar I5 may be vreadily removed from the inner bar bulge Il by merely slipping the slot i6 over the inner bar end 22, when its use is no longer desired.

While the normal use of the improved composite garment hanger should be apparent from 4 the foregoing detailed description of its construction, a short resum of the operation of the device will be given. When the garment hanger is not in use, the clamping bars I2, I 5 may be oompactly confined within the sheet-metal body 'I as shown in Figs. l and 2, and the suspension hook I0 may, if desired, be swung downwardly within the body I so as to eliminate outwardly projecting parts. The hollow hangers may then be compactly nested so as to occupy minimum space for storage and transportation. If it is merely desired to utilize one of the devices for the purpose of suspending a coat, jacket, or sweater, the hanger may be assembled as in Figs. l and 2 with both clamping bars I2, I5 remaining confined within the body l'.

When it becomes desirable to apply trousers 2i) to the improved hanger assemblage, either the outer clamping bar I5 alone, or both clamping bars I2, I 5 may be released, depending upon whether one or two pairs of trousers 2G are to be applied. VA single pair of trousers may be' quickly applied by releasing only the outer bar' I5 as in Fig. 3, and two pairs may be just as readily applied by releasing both bars I2, I5 as in Fig. 4, and by thereafter springing the resilient bar ends 22, 23 into the adjacent hooks I3, I4 in an obvious manner. The resilient bars I2, I5 will then effectively clamp the trouser legs within the hanger body l, and the oli-sets I3, 2| will insure uniform clamping and will eliminate excessive clamping at the seams I3. The trousers 2U may be just as quickly and conveniently released and removed, independently of each other, and coats or jackets may obviously be suspended from the body portions 9 while the trousers 2li are suspended from the device.

From the foregoing detailed description it will be apparent that my present invention provides a simple, compact, and sturdy garment hanger which may be constructed primarily of sheetmetal with the aid of punches and dies and at moderate cost, The improved device is adapted to simultaneously suspend coats or the like, and one or more pairs of trousers or the like, without distorting or undesirably crushing or wrinkling the garments; and the aesthetic curvature of the body I not only provides for more eicient suspension of the garments, but also enhances the strength even when relatively thin and light sheet-metal is utilized in its formation. The improved trouser clamping structure besides being simple in construction and readily manipulable,

will permit independent application or removal of the trousers 2U, and also avoids undesirable compression of the seams I9 while insuring uniform clamping eiiect. When not in use, the improved structures may also be compactly nested and confined in relatively limited spaces, and the improved assemblage obviously presents a neat and highly attractive appearance; and as previously indicated, the various parts of the device need not be formed of actual sheet-metal but may also be formed of plastic or other sheet-like material, so that the term sheet-metal as employed throughout the specification and claims should be construed to include such substitute sheet-like materials.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit this invention to the exact details of construction or to the precise mode ofuse, herein shown and described, for various modications within the scope of the appended claims may Voccur to persons skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A garment hanger comprising, a body formed of a single sheet of material and having downwardly and outwardly directed shoulder supports connected at their lower extremities by an integral apron wall having an approximately horizontal lower edge portion spanning the gap between the outer ends of said shoulder supports, and provided with an outwardly directed medial oli-set and an approximately horizontal flat bar hingedly connected at one end directly to the inner side of said apron edge portion beneath one shoulder support and having its opposite swinging end releasably attachable to the inner side of the apron edge portion beneath the other shoulder support while its medial part coacts directly with said lower apron offset to complete a trouser clamp.

2. A garment hanger comprising, a body formed of a single sheet of material and having downwardly and outwardly directed shoulder supports connected at their lower extremities by an integral apron wall having an approximately horizontal lower edge portion spanning the gap Ibetween the outer ends of said shoulder supports and provided with an outwardly directed medial off-set, an approximately horizontal flat bar hingedly connected at one end directly to the inner side of said apron edge portion beneath REFERENCES CTED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 975,509 Carroll Nov. 15, 1910 1,818,193 Burde Aug, 11, 1931 2,114,803 Kurucz et al. Apr. 19, 1938 2,169,431 Richards s Aug. 31, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 419 461 Great Britain Nov. 13, 1934 555,819 France Mar. 3l, 1923 

